Denis Walsh: War still fought over a field

Ancient enmities between the British and Irish are stirred this week when a vote is taken on whether to open Irelands best stadium to foreign games

THE most divisive issue in Irish sport will pollute the air of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) congress once again next weekend. Delegates will be asked to vote on whether international rugby and soccer should be played at Croke Park, the GAA’s flagship stadium. We know what you’re thinking: why would such a reasonable commercial proposition cause such a bitter row? Bear with us and we’ll happily share our confusion with you.

The outline of the mess is this. Ireland has no single national stadium and no immediate prospects of having one. The taoiseach (prime minister), Bertie Ahern, came up with outrageous plans to build a national stadium outside Dublin, but he was finally persuaded by his coalition partners to abandon his vanity and the plans were parked. The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) had designs on its own stadium too, but the government persuaded it to join the national